Week In 6

I am a firm believer that companies donating to organizations mainly for public relations is a good idea. I feel this way for several reasons. The first reason is that it brings attention to that organization or cause. Oftentimes when large companies are giving money to the press is “all over the story” through photos, television, or radio. When people see or here stories about this it brings attention to that organization. Many times people are flipping though magazines and see a picture of that. Either these people flip right by the picture, or else they stop to see who gave to what. I believe that even if a million people look at that magazine and only one person stops to look and support that organization it still makes a difference. That is still one more person supporting their cause that they did not have before. Just the other day on the Today Show, there was an actress on television supporting a cause that I had never heard of. When I heard the about the organization I immediately looked it up because it sounded interesting. Oftentimes people don’t even know the cause of the organization they are donating to, but they know its “good” because “Company A,” who is a large company is donating there. I also think its important when celebrities give to organizations and are shown interacting with the organizations. Even though in reality they may only interact with the organization by giving them money or going on television shows for ten minutes, it still makes a difference. Someone sees such a thing and is inspired because that celebrity does it, and if he or she does it then I should do it.

I do not believe that America is a “Dewey Society.” I wish I could say that America was a Dewey Society, but we are not. I feel that right now our society goes along with the Whitman beliefs. Americans basically need to be told how to feel or act. Like the organizations belief that I have, in many situations Americans are used to forming an opinion based on what they are influenced by. I think American’s hands have been held for so long taking them in steps to reach a conclusion that it would be hard to form a Dewey Society. I think that a Dewey Society is what we should have because we are a democratic nation. “We the People” should be capable to make our own decisions. For so many years the media has done it for us and told the viewers who the “good people are and who the bad people are.” Its going to take many years for America to change, but I feel it is important in order for America to truly be a democratic society.

I was also wondering has there been studies done to see if by large organizations donating to certain causes have increased the popularity? I think it would be interesting to see a study done on that.

Shira Cohen